The Audi Q5 is a five-seat compact luxury crossover SUV produced by the German car manufacturer Audi. The Q5 was introduced in 2008 and is currently in its second generation since 2017.
The 2022 Audi Q5 is available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels with all-wheel drive as standard. It is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol (45 TFSI Quattro), six-cylinder diesel (45/50 TDI), or a potent plug-in hybrid (55 TFSIe) powertrain.
The Q5 is comfortable, roomy, built to premium standards, and pleasant to drive. But it no longer enjoys the dominance it once had.
What’s New?
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The 2022 Q5 comes with a sportier S line exterior styling as standard, while the plug-in hybrid model gets a larger and more powerful battery, with its capacity rising from 14.1 kWh to 17.9 kWh. With this capacity increase, the 2022 Q5 PHEV has a driving range of 37 km compared to the previous 30 km on the 2021 model.
Other changes to the lineup were minor cosmetic improvements, including standard sport seats for the plug-in-hybrid and a newly optional Black Optic package.
5 Pros
Upmarket Cabin Quality
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The 2022 Audi Q5 has an elegant, spacious, comfortable, and premium interior. The craftsmanship is matchless with a high-quality fit and finish on practically every section that includes real wood trim touches. The seats are well cushioned, supportive, and covered in Nappa leather upholstery with flawless stitching. If you opt for the Convenience Package you’ll get a driver’s seat with a memory function, a heated steering wheel, and a keyless engine start. The well-positioned driver’s seat provides superb outward visibility.
Spontaneous Infotainment Features
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The 2022 Q5’s infotainment system is one area that deserves attention in this classy luxury car. It’s intuitive and simple to use. It features a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen high-resolution display with crisp graphics placed at the top-center of the dash and not within easy reach. This central display is seamlessly paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that is comparably crisp and responsive. Apple Carplay, Android Auto, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard.
Other available features include a built-in navigation system with its full map capable of being displayed on the 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a wireless charging station.
Practical Ride and Assertive Handling
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The 2022 Q5 comes in all-wheel drive as standard, resulting in spectacular road grip and handling on curvy roads, or in and out of tight spots. And it further improves its handling by matching its steering dynamics with power and torque. The steering is accurate and tight with the correct load, and road feedback is flawlessly balanced.
All 2022 Q5 models offer a comfortable ride, but for the best experience opt for the models with the optional air suspension.
Available Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain
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The 2022 Audi Q5 comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 261hp and 273 lb-ft of torque as standard.
The added advantage is the availability of a plug-in-hybrid setup that combines the base engine with an electric motor to produce 362hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV has superior acceleration to the base engine due to the motor providing instant torque for faster acceleration. But still, acceleration is similarly breathtaking on the base engine model. The Q5 is known for its top speed and acceleration making it purely a blast to drive.
A Tranquil, Cozy, and Spacious Cabin
The 2022 Q5’s cabin is neat and a hallmark for the premium compact SUV segment. Standard features include extravagant wood trim pieces and leather seats, or you can opt for an upgrade with features such as carbon or aluminum fiber inlays and plush Nappa leather.
The premium Q5 Prestige has impressive comfortable front sports seats with ventilation and heating. The cushions are not too nor so plush but are comfortable and supportive enough even on long journeys. The cabin is spacious and well built and properly shielded from the external world. You can hardly detect any wind noise, even at high speeds.
5 Cons
Inferior Storage Options
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The 2022 Q5 falls short of other models in the class when it comes to cargo space. In its standard structure, this Q5 has a 730-liter cargo capacity with the second-row seat in place and a maximum of 1529 liters with the back seat folded down which is average for the class. There are several tie-down points within the cargo area but unlike other models in the class, the 2022 Q5 has no underfloor storage.
Storage options for smaller items come in the form of a handy square tray ahead of the shift knob capable of holding items such as phones, glasses, keys, etc and an average-size deep bin between the front seats.
Higher MSRP than Rivals
The 2022 Audi Q5 is an expensive vehicle. The base Q5 Premium trim has a starting price (MSRP) of USD 44,000, which is a price slightly above average in the class, while the Q5 Premium Plus starts at USD 49,000, and the top-spec Q5 Prestige retails for USD54,700. These prices are so due to many desirable features being bundled into packages that bring up the extra cost. These options can rapidly add up resulting in the overall price of the Q5 skyrocketing.
Low Range for the PHEV
The continuation of a hybrid Q5 with a bigger and more powerful battery for the 2022 Q5 is great news. With this release, the full charge range on electric-only has been extended from 30 km to 37 km. This range extension is something but it’s still short of what other hybrid models in the class can offer.
Transfer Shifts Can Delay Occasionally
The 2022 Q5 in its standard 45 TFSI guise can produce 261 horsepower. Although this powerplant is competitive on the track, it attained an acceleration of 97kph in exactly 6 seconds. When the turbo kicks in and you’re in the correct gear, the revs smoothly move towards the redline in a typical Audi way. But the transmission sometimes tends to be indecisive and slow to engage becoming a hindrance to the engine’s performance.
The Touchscreen Interface Can be a Nuisance Sometimes
The 2022 Q5 comes with a picturesque 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard. This display is mounted at the top of the dash far from the driver. The only way to control it is via poking and swiping the screen, while the absence of a touchpad controller or dial will be missed, as for the driver it requires more reach from a farther seating position to be able to control which is distractive.
Final Verdict
The 2022 Audi Q5 is a great choice for anyone who is in the market for a compact crossover SUV. Although its asking price may be a bit higher, it’s a car with pure luxury, it’s worth every penny, and it features an extremely neat interior. It’s good-looking and comfortable. There’s just about enough space for five passengers and little cargo. The 2022 Audi Q5 is also a capable car with exceptional performance.
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I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
